A distressed Tom Cleverley signalled to the bench immediately after falling under Eric Dier’s challenge.

Instantly, the midfielder knew his ankle had turned badly on the White Hart Lane turf and he would need to come off.

As Cleverley lay on a stretcher, his arm covering his anguished face, Roberto Martinez tried to offer the 26-year-old some comfort as he was carried down the tunnel.

But the Everton boss, and the player, both knew his injury was bad.

Ligament damage is likely to keep Cleverley sidelined for up to two months, meaning he will miss games including Chelsea, the derby, Man United and Arsenal.

Martinez’s concern was understandable.

Not only on a personal level for a young player he has forged a strong relationship with, but also for Everton.

Cleverley, signed in the summer on a free transfer, has been the unsung hero of the Blues’ first five games of the season.

His work has often been unheralded but the speed with which the former Manchester United man has slotted into the Everton side has to be applauded.

Cleverley’s absence will now be keenly felt.

CLEVERLEY IS FIRST IN

“Tom is that personality that you want in the Everton dressing room,” Martinez said.

“He is the first player in, always ready to get instructions ready to understand what is needed to help the team, and he has been in a winning side with Manchester United.

“He has won titles and is not worried about changing around to help the group.”

Cleverley picked Everton over a number of other clubs this summer because he is convinced Martinez will get the best out of him.

Everton v Stoke City in the Barclays Asia Cup,at the National Stadium,Singapore. Tom Cleverley scores from the penalty spot.

The England man also believes the Blues boss knows his best position and can revive his reputation as a goal-scoring midfielder.

But in the opening five fixtures, Cleverley has been asked to sacrifice himself for the greater good.

Everton fans have not seen much of Cleverley the attack-minded midfielder, but more of Cleverley the workhorse - and in a variety of positions as well.

Martinez has asked the free transfer to play wide left, wide right, in a holding position and even at right-back, as he did against Barnsley last month.

Cleverley has performed admirably in each of those roles.

DISPLAY AT RIGHT-BACK WAS VITAL TO CUP PROGRESSION

“Technically, he is so gifted that he can fit in any position and his physical ability allows him to do that and I thought he was a major aspect of why we got through to the next round of the Capital One Cup,” Martinez added.

“He adopted a very, very different position from what he is used to but he is such a reliable character that his footballing abilities become important for the team.”

Cleverley is averaging the fourth most tackles per game in the Everton side this season, as many interceptions as James McCarthy and over one clearance per match.

Those statistics stand up to his renaissance at Aston Villa last season (although he averaged more tackles) as well as during his season on loan at Wigan Athletic.

That season, under Martinez at the DW Stadium is considered, by many to be Cleverley’s best.

And before injury struck against Spurs, Cleverley had offered vital protection and guidance to a struggling Bryan Oviedo at left-back.

He had done the same against Watford and Southampton, with teenager Brendan Galloway behind him but Everton, for the short-term at least, have lost that.

BUT WHAT ABOUT CHELSEA?

And with Chelsea’s three pronged attack from midfield heading to Goodison on Saturday, Martinez must find a way of coping without Cleverley.

Eden Hazard, Willian and Pedro form a menacing and fluid trio behind Diego Costa and will look to expose Everton’s full-backs to one-one-situations.

Seamus Coleman showed against Manchester City that he cope with even the quickest wingers but will need help - as will Oviedo or Galloway.

Cleverley would have been an ideal support to those players down the left but now Martinez must weigh-up his options.

Does the manager trust Kevin Mirallas to perform his defensive duties with the same enthusiasm he shows in attack? Does the industrious Steven Naismith earn a first league start of the season or is Leon Osman called into the side?

Should Aaron Lennon go straight back into the team?

Or does Martinez chuck Aaron Lennon straight into the team?

Lennon was a tireless runner in his loan spell last season and Leighton Baines said the winger shamed other members of the Everton side into working harder.

The 28-year-old has not played since leaving Everton - he didn’t feature for Spurs all summer - and so is searching for match fitness but he insists he’s in “good condition”.